Bunka x Sanderson contest – call for entries

In partnership with English wallpaper and textile printing company Sanderson, Bunka Gakuen will be holding a student design contest called “Say it with flowers – A saga of Sanderson Florals“. They have offered the use of 25 fabrics that you may choose from for your design (as many as you like, if you wish to mix them). Create your own theme and create the design.

The details are as follows:

1) The contest is open to all Bunka students.

2) This is a contest for ladieswear only.

3) Create an A4 size design drawing, attach the Entry Sheet ( copies will be in the classroom ), then submit to the Fashion Resource Center by June 30, 2014. Have a look at the fabrics available here. Or go see the fabrics in real life in the Textile Archive in the resource center.

4) The first round of judging will be on July 4, 2014. If your work is selected at this point, they will give you the fabric and ask you to create your final piece. ( Remember, in my class anything you make for a contest will be considered 10% of your final grade, and I will make myself available to guide/help you in constructing your design )

5) The final judging will be in September.

6) The Grand Prize is a trip to England, and a tour of the Sanderson showrooms in London, and the factories in Denham and Loughborough.

Floral dresses immediately conjure images of a romantic, feminine setting. Please consider the history, sophistication, reputation and quality of Sanderson textiles when you are designing. Be sure to do your research, and come up with some beautiful and awesome designs.

GO FOR IT!!!

Create your own “Beautiful flower garden turned into a dress”

Here are some tips to get you started:

1) Do your research! Have a look at how other designers use floral prints in different ways.

2) Think about your silhouette or type of garment you would like to make. Consider the different design approaches that we have gone over in class and find one that works for you on this brief.

3) Have a look at the fabrics on offer and consider what kind of techniques you would like to use. Embroidery? Applique? Dyeing?

4) Finally, consider the history of Sanderson and how that will echo in your design. Will you continue the English tradition? Will you try something radical?

Here are some floral dresses for inspiration:

This design below uses the florals emanating from one shoulder and concentrates them on the hem.

This dress uses a similar placement technique, but cuts the fabric so that the flowers are all concentrated near the bust, bringing the eye to the face.

These dresses also feature intentionally placed bouquets of flowers.

Or you could think about symmetry:

Or these abstract looks from Mary Katrantzou:

Remember that you can alter the fabric they give you as much as possible using any technique you like. In this look they have cut out each flower and appliqued onto the base fabric.

Here are some other inspirational floral print dresses. Have a look and determine for yourself the elements of the design that intrigue you: